Alex Rodriguez has spent his life being one of the most prolific names in professional sports.
Today belongs to Alex Rodriguez, who was born on July 27th 44 years ago. No matter how you feel about A-Rod, it cannot be denied that he has captured the attention of sports fans throughout his life.
His career as a baseball player was remarkable. A .295 career batting average, 696 home runs (fourth all-time), 3,115 total hits (22nd all-time), 2,086 runs batted in (third all-time), $480 million dollars in career earnings (MLB record), a 117.8 WAR (wins above replacement), a 14-time All-Star, a 3-time MVP, and a World Series champion. It doesn’t get much better than that.
For as remarkable as his career was, it was also controversial. Rodriguez has admitted to using PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) twice. He first admitted it in 2009 when leaks from anonymous 2003 MLB survey tests were brought into the public eye. He then admitted to using PEDs again in a private meeting with prosecutors and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). These parties were investigating the Biogenesis of America scandal, a case in which several MLB players were distributed PEDs by the clinic in question.
A-ROD’s PED usage followed him throughout his career, and will continue to loom over him as he approaches hall of fame eligibility. Will he get in? If Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are any indication, he may have to wait a while. That being said, there are four years until A-ROD is hall of fame eligible, and a lot can happen in four years.
Birthdays are meant for celebration, so let’s celebrate what Alex Rodriguez has accomplished since his playing career ended. He works both as an analyst for FOX Sports and a broadcaster for ESPN. His relationship with fellow celebrity Jennifer Lopez became official in 2017, and they have since gotten engaged. He also continues to find success for himself through A-ROD Corp, a company Rodriguez established in 2003 to handle his investments and business ventures.
